Engineering students showcase capstone projects at CEAS Expo
Students presented 90 different projects offering innovative solutions to real-world problems
Graduating engineering students from University of Cincinnati’s College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) gathered for the inaugural CEAS Expo in April to showcase their senior capstone projects to more than 500 attendees, including faculty, staff, alumni and industry representatives. The event, organized by the college and CEAS Tribunal student government, was held in downtown Cincinnati at the Duke Energy Convention Center.
Students competed for prize money while presenting projects that represent the culmination of their time in the classroom and on co-op. There were 90 capstones on display, including computer programs, vehicles, chemical and environmental processes, medical devices and more.
Before the 2010 merging of the two colleges that became what is now known as the College of Engineering and Applied Science, there was a similar expo open to all students. In recent years, there was a scaled-down CEAS Showcase that only included the top 20-30 capstone groups.
“CEAS Dean John Weidner had a goal to bring back a college-wide expo,” said Alex Van Haaren, CEAS Tribunal president and a mechanical engineering student. “It was a super successful first year and we cannot wait to do it again next year. We heard great reviews from capstone groups, judges, attendees, staff, faculty and students.”
Prizes were awarded for the top 10 teams overall, best projects for each department, a crowd favorite and the judges' choice.
Alex Hertlein's project won first place overall and first place for biomedical engineering. Photo/provided.
For first-place winner Alex Hertlein, his presentation at the expo marked the conclusion of a research project that was years in the making. The biomedical engineering student started working in College of Medicine professor Bryan Mackenzie’s research lab during the summer before his first year at UC.
Hertlein’s project featured a potential new and more convenient treatment for hereditary hemochromatosis, an iron overload disorder — essentially the opposite of iron deficiency anemia — that effects 1 in 300 people in the U.S.
“Throughout the years, I've randomly met several people whose families have been ravaged by hemochromatosis and they're always surprised (and so extremely grateful) that there is research being done that is aiming to help them and their family members live more comfortably with the disease,” he said.
Hertlein said it was a positive experience to showcase his work at the expo and also see the work of his classmates as they prepared to graduate from UC. After graduation, Hertlein is joining Siemens Digital Industries Software as a presales solution consultant.
“It was really neat walking around at the expo and seeing all the creative and effective solutions everyone had come up with — and solutions that address some very important problems in today's world,” Hertlein said. “Seeing companies from multiple industries not only sponsor but actively engage with me and other students demonstrated the vivid collaboration that UC (and CEAS) works so hard to maintain between industry and academia.”
| Place | Team Name/Project | Team Members |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Targeting the Iron-Absorptive Machinery in the Treatment of Hereditary Hemochromatosis | Alexander Hertlein |
| 2nd | Solar Decathalon Office Team/Cordoba Solar Office | Laith Bouizar, Michael Stearns, Danielle Hall, Allison Flavin, Nathan Tong |
| 3rd | Coastercats | Mitchell Cholley, Charles Neate, Zachary Skidmore, Nathan Moormann, Matthew Novak, Brett Hoog |
| 4th | Battle Bots: Doomba | Henry Tran, Jacob Hoffmann, Joseph Murphy |
| 5th | Articulating Robot Arm Kit - Mechanical | Benjamin Pottmeyer, Hansaja Herath, John Paul Williams, Kyle Balko |
| 6th | FRP Platform | Michael Malchesky |
| 7th | Sonicats | Adam Ringheisen, Brian Murphy, Josh Clabbers, Tyler Clevenger, Spencer Chamberlin, Nick Kearns, Cole Rutter, Stephen Sober, Ian Wells |
| 8th | UC Solar Project | Allison Gouge, Samuel Burt, Evan DeMars, Esther Hughes, Allie Mullinger |
| 9th | Tissue Engineered Model for Uterine Fibroids | Anna Pyo |
| Best of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics | AeroCats | Justin Boreman, Elliott Burdick, Marshall Dunlap, Kyle Fishleigh, Aidan Flanigan, Jake Holsapple, Jacob Huelsman, Cole Isaacs, Camron Jolley, Areya Joya, Max Kleinhenz, Nicklaus Krauser, Cameron Long, Sharon Macumber, David Mulligan, Alex Newberg, Joshua Ogorzaly, Sam Orians, Taylor Reinhart, Brandon Rider, Dylan Roach, Elizabeth Rochford, Phillip Rump |
| Best of Biomedical Engineering | Targeting the Iron-Absorptive Machinery in the Treatment of Hereditary Hemochromatosis | Alexander Hertlein |
| Best of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science | Elderly Virtual Assistant | Alexander Davison, Sriran Kodavati, Yugo Kadowaki, Andrew Matthews |
| Best of Mechanical and Materials Engineering | Coastercats | Mitchell Cholley, Charles Neate, Zachary Skidmore, Nathan Moormann, Matthew Novak, Brett Hoog |
| Best of Chemical and Environmental Engineering | UC Solar Project | Allison Gouge, Samuel Burt, Evan DeMars, Esther Hughes, Allie Mullinger |
| Best of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management | Solar Decathalon Office Team/Cordoba Solar Office | Laith Bouizar, Michael Stearns, Danielle Hall, Allison Flavin, Nathan Tong |
| Crowd Favorite | T-shirt Cannon | Christopher Lopez, Tanner Krumpelman, Jordan Tichenor |
| Judges Favorite | Industrial Robot Arm Kit | Mark Bertke, Andrew Hudepohl, Kristian Abood |
More than 500 attendees explored 90 student capstone projects at CEAS Expo. Photos/Corrie Mayer/UC CEAS Marketing.
Tags
- Computer Science
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics
- Engineering Education
- Student Experience
- College of Engineering and Applied Science
- Mechanical and Materials Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
Related Stories
UC celebrates Marian Spencer Scholars
September 22, 2023
The University of Cincinnati celebrated the legacy of UC alumna Marian Spencer by recognizing 20 students awarded her namesake scholarship during a Sept. 9 induction ceremony. The Marian Spencer Scholars are all high-achieving graduates of the Cincinnati Public School system.
UC and GE partner to introduce high schoolers to engineering
September 21, 2023
Rising 9th and 10th graders experienced a free, weeklong, immersive engineering camp at the University of Cincinnati as part of GE's Next Engineers program. Students completed hands-on engineering design challenges while being mentored by GE Aerospace volunteers, industry professionals and current College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) students.
With UC, you see the world
September 19, 2023
Study abroad is back to 75% of pre-COVID levels at the University of Cincinnati, and a wide variety of international study options is available to students in any program. Where do you see yourself in the world?